"YUK" 2005 Obituary

YUKE o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-06-25 published
KERR,
Ben -- Dispatch:
By Oliver MOORE,
Saturday,June 25, 2005, Page M5
A Toronto busking icon, who sang She's Better Than Viagra (Belinda
Stronach Is), has died after years of crooning at the corner
of Yonge and Bloor Streets.
Ben KERR, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in every municipal
election since 1985, was believed to be in his 70s. He died last
week after a period of declining health.
His constitution had to be tough to withstand hours of exposure
on his favourite street corner. His body also had to withstand
his cayenne-pepper cocktail. The self-proclaimed "King of Cayenne"
was convinced it helped his health and he dosed himself liberally
with a drink of carrot juice, herbs and the fiery orange-red
powdered pepper. He said cayenne pepper had saved him when he
had "one foot in the grave, the other on a banana peel."
Readers of
NOWMagazine repeatedly voted him the city's best
busker, and a young bagpiper playing this week on Mr.
KERR's
old turf said he had big shoes to fill. "It's quite a responsibility,"
said Devon
YUKE.